Oscar Freire wins the bunch spring into Digne les Bains, beating out fellow sprinters Leonardo Duque (Cofidis) and Erik Zabel (Milram). This is the triple world champion’s fourth tour stage win of his career. Freire had this to say after the stage, “I hope to keep green,” said Freire. “And in the mountains we have a leader like Menchov. We hope he can take yellow… For me, Menchov is the best candidate [to win] this Tour.”
Missing from the sprint was Team Columbia sensation Mark Cavendish. Cavendish had a hard time making it over the catagory four climb 9.5km before Dignes les Bain, finishing 3:27 back. “It was really hard. We knew all along it was going to be hard. I tried to hang on, hang on,” said Cavendish to Versus reporter Frankie Andreu after the stage. “I’m just getting tired.” Cavendish is expected to take an early exit from the tour and not start stage 15. Cavendish’s next goal will be the Olympics.
Jersey standings remain the same. With Cadel Evans in the Maillot Jaune, Oscar Freire in the Maillot Vert, Sebastian Lang in Polka Dots, and Vincenzo Nibali in the Best Young Rider Jersey.
Stage 14 Results
1 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank - 4.13.08
2 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
4 Julian Dean (NZl) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30
5 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
6 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
7 Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
8 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
9 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step
10 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole
